PAPER TALK: ARSENAL CLOSE ON BALOTELLI... Arsenal are nearing a £25m deal for Mario Balotelli, Atletico Madrid want Alvaro Negredo, while Gonzalo Higuain is wanted by three PL clubs...

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• Arsenal are ready to pay around £25million for AC Milan's former Man City striker Mario Balotelli.
• Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger could look for a part-exchange deal with Manchester United over Thomas Vermaelen, with Chris Smalling a possible target.
• Liverpool have hit a brick wall in their attempt to land Alberto Moreno from Sevilla.
• Chelsea are keeping tabs on Steaua Bucharest left-back Iasmin Latovlevici as they seek Ashley Cole's replacement.
• Cardiff are ready to pay £9million to re-sign striker Ross McCormack from Leeds.
• Brighton striker Leonardo Ulloa has set his heart on a move to the Premier League. Leicester have already had a £7million bid for him rejected.
• Leicester striker David Nugent is a shock target for ambitious Middlesbrough.Newcastle's bid for French striker Bafetimbi Gomis is stalling - over his demands for a huge signing-on fee.